Past Women’s Leadership Award Recipients

The Women’s Leadership Award acknowledges an exceptional woman each year who exemplifies leadership in her profession and her community. The recipient offers the keynote address and presents the Emily Couric Leadership Scholarship to an outstanding female high school senior selected for demonstrated leadership in her school and community.

2023 Winner, Sandra Wicks Lewis

2023 Winner, Sandra Wicks Lewis

2022 Recipient<strong>Sonja Hoel Perkins</strong> Venture Capitalist</strong>

2022 Recipient<strong>Sonja Hoel Perkins</strong> Venture Capitalist</strong>

2021 Recipient<strong>Dr. Vivian Pinn</strong> Pioneer in Women's Health</strong>

2021 Recipient<strong>Dr. Vivian Pinn</strong> Pioneer in Women's Health</strong>

2019 Recipient<strong>Dr. Deborah McCauley</strong> Wildlife Veterinarian</strong>

2019 Recipient<strong>Dr. Deborah McCauley</strong> Wildlife Veterinarian</strong>

2018 Recipient<strong>Emily K. Rafferty</strong> President Emerita of The Metropolitan Museum of Art</strong>

2018 Recipient<strong>Emily K. Rafferty</strong> President Emerita of The Metropolitan Museum of Art</strong>

2017 Recipient<strong>Val Ackerman</strong> Champion for Women’s Sports</strong>

2017 Recipient<strong>Val Ackerman</strong> Champion for Women’s Sports</strong>

2016 Recipient<strong>Nikki Giovanni</strong> Poet</strong>

2016 Recipient<strong>Nikki Giovanni</strong> Poet</strong>

2015 Recipient<strong>Dr. Sylvia Earle</strong> Famed American Marine Biologist</strong>

2015 Recipient<strong>Dr. Sylvia Earle</strong> Famed American Marine Biologist</strong>

2014 Recipient<strong>Tina Brown</strong> Award-Winning Journalist</strong>

2014 Recipient<strong>Tina Brown</strong> Award-Winning Journalist</strong>

2013 Recipient<strong>Senator Olympia Snowe</strong> U.S. Senator for Maine</strong>

2013 Recipient<strong>Senator Olympia Snowe</strong> U.S. Senator for Maine</strong>

2012 Recipient<strong>Maureen Orth</strong> Award-Winning Journalist</strong>

2012 Recipient<strong>Maureen Orth</strong> Award-Winning Journalist</strong>

2011 Recipient<strong>Melanne Verveer</strong> U.S. Ambassador</strong>

2011 Recipient<strong>Melanne Verveer</strong> U.S. Ambassador</strong>

2010 Recipient<strong>Anna Quindlen</strong> Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalist</strong>

2010 Recipient<strong>Anna Quindlen</strong> Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalist</strong>

2009 Recipient<strong>Kimberly Dozier</strong> Award-Winning News Correspondent</strong>

2009 Recipient<strong>Kimberly Dozier</strong> Award-Winning News Correspondent</strong>

2008 Recipient<strong>Erin Gruwell</strong> President, Freedom Writers Foundation</strong>

2008 Recipient<strong>Erin Gruwell</strong> President, Freedom Writers Foundation</strong>

2007 Recipient<strong>Lesley Visser</strong> Sports Writer and Broadcaster</strong>

2007 Recipient<strong>Lesley Visser</strong> Sports Writer and Broadcaster</strong>

2006 Recipient<strong>Donna Brazile</strong> Chair, DNC Voting Rights Institute</strong>

2006 Recipient<strong>Donna Brazile</strong> Chair, DNC Voting Rights Institute</strong>

2005 Recipient<strong>Caroline Kennedy</strong> Vice Chair, Fund for Public Schools in NYC</strong>

2005 Recipient<strong>Caroline Kennedy</strong> Vice Chair, Fund for Public Schools in NYC</strong>

2004 Recipient<strong>Sandra Day O'Connor</strong> First Female Supreme Court Justice</strong>

2004 Recipient<strong>Sandra Day O'Connor</strong> First Female Supreme Court Justice</strong>

2003 Recipient<strong>Rita Dove</strong> Pulitzer Prize-Winning Poet</strong>

2003 Recipient<strong>Rita Dove</strong> Pulitzer Prize-Winning Poet</strong>

2002 Recipient<strong>Katie Couric</strong> Award-Winning Journalist</strong>

2002 Recipient<strong>Katie Couric</strong> Award-Winning Journalist</strong>

2001 Recipient<strong>Emily Couric</strong> Virginia State Senator</strong>

2001 Recipient<strong>Emily Couric</strong> Virginia State Senator</strong>

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